So much has happened this past weekend that writing about a Natalie Wood documentary seems a bit beside the point.
Category: Eleanor Ringel Cater
Movie column by Eleanor Ringel Cater
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‘The Trip to Greece’ – Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon banter with Greece as a backdrop
Greece is the word – or it would be if its magnificent scenery could get a word in edgewise as Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon chatter and babble non-stop through the fourth and final leg of their meandering series in “The Trip to Greece.”
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‘Seberg’ – movie exploits and shortchanges actress Jean Seberg
Alive or dead, Jean Seberg can’t catch a break from the movies. Ironic, in a way, since she’s associated with two of the biggest “breaks” in cinema history.
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‘Becoming’ – a nostalgic Netflix documentary about Michelle Obama
“Becoming,” the energetic and endearing new Netflix documentary based on Michelle Obama’s best-selling memoir, made me realize how much I missed having a First Lady.
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Eleanor’s recommendations for ‘stay-at-home’ movies
Not surprisingly, staying inside appeals more to some than others.
Still, I was surprised to hear comic John Mulvaney put it so perfectly the other night when he was talking to Stephen Colbert. Basically, those most comfortable with quarantine tend toward the lazy and anti-social.
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Sleep-themed movies for your sleepless nights
It’s not the best of times. It’s not the worst of times either, as far as we know. At least, not yet. But it’s certainly worrisome times.
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Brian Dennehy (1938-2020) – a gracious and talented character actor
Brian Dennehy, who died late last week at age 81 of natural causes, was in many ways the character actor’s character actor – one of those “I don’t know his name, but I sure know who you mean” presences.
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‘Cats’ – movie not nearly as good as the musical
I originally saw “Cats” at a SAG preview in 1982, about a week before it opened on Broadway. Since I didn’t know I was supposed to dislike it, I loved it. Just loved it.
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‘Birds of Prey’ – a fun girls gang superhero movie
Fizzy, funky and as full-of-itself as a slumber party on acid, “Birds of Prey” is a feminist free-for-all disguised as a superhero movie.
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‘Emma’ – a ‘delightful’ adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic
In Autumn de Wilde’s crisp and spirited adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma.,” it’s hard to say which is prettier: the pastries or the Empire dresses. Since both are rendered in breathtaking pastels, it probably doesn’t matter.
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‘The Invisible Man’ – movie with feminist agenda is visibly flawed
Given its not-so-subtle feminist agenda, “The invisible Man” might better be called “The Invisible Woman.”
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‘Wendy’ – another failed “Peter Pan” themed movie
The tone of poetic fantasy that was so effective in Benh Zeitlin’s “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” proves a terrible fit for his newest work, “Wendy.”
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‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ – Céline Sciamma’s ‘superb’ movie casts a spell
See if you can follow me here.
The lady on fire in Céline Sciamma’s superb film, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” may not be the lady in the portrait. It could just as easily be the lady who paints the portrait.
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‘Greed’ – a romp through the abuses of the rich and infamous
You could say Gordon Gekko was wrong. “Greed” isn’t just good.
It’s hilarious – and ultimately quite sobering.
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‘The Traitor’ – a true Mafia thriller that spans decades
In many ways, “The Traitor” is the movie “The Irishman” should’ve been. It, too, is made by an aging master – 80-year-old Marco Bellocchio rather than 77-year-old Martin Scorsese. It, too, runs several hours. And it, too, is a Mafia-based true story.
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‘Downhill’ – Louis-Dreyfus, Ferrell can’t save movie from going downhill
How bad does a movie have to be to obliterate the considerable talents of Julia Louis-Dreyfus?
As bad as “Downhill” (please feel free to make your own “downhill all the way” joke or a variation thereof).
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92nd Academy Awards – Parasite’s Best Picture win makes history
It ain’t over ‘till the fat lady speaks.
At least, that’s what happened at the 92ndAcademy Awards as the cast, crew and creative team behind the South Korean movie “Parasite” swarmed the stage to celebrate the history-making moment when a non-English-language film won Best Picture.
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‘The Rhythm Section’ – a forgettable movie with inept plotting
What’s there to say about a movie that slips out of your head before you slide out of the parking lot?
Not much, I’m afraid. Not much good, that is. “The Rhythm Section,” alas, is that movie.
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‘The Gentlemen’ – Guy Ritchie’s new ‘devilish’ live-action movie
Because I swallowed both versions of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” I usually expect to swallow Guy Ritchie’s other movies, well…lock, stock and two smoking barrels.
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‘Just Mercy’ – The more things change, the more they stay the same
“Just Mercy” would be the one of the best movies of the year if the year were 1988 or even 1968. There were moments when I glanced away from the screen, looked back and fully expected to see Sidney Poitier.
